Improvement in anu-fhiction gearing



dem esercitano @titille THOMAS CHASE,- or wasntNefrogv,v Disraier'or COLUMBIA.

v Latem Bama N0.-105,42o, datefz .hay 119, 1ste.

IMI-Rove:univr :1v Anm-FR'ICTION GEARING.

*m `The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part ofthe seme.

.N h-40M.- T0 all. llhm @t may 001106771: 7,'. Second, of passive anti-friction wheels, made with Be it knownl that I,- THOMAS CHASE,s of Washingproper bevel to fit and revolve with acorresponding tou' City, in the county of Washington and District of vbevel on a beveled wheel .or boot, attached to the Columbia, have invented anew andA Asetul Anti-flic.- -main shaft, horizontal or othcrwise,'thesaid passive tion Gearing, which 'I call Ghases Friction-Annihiwheels being arranged to rest and revolve upon lator; and I do hereby declarev that the following is a spheres in grooved plates. By means of this passive v full, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference wheel my anti-friction device 'is applied to horizontal heilig had tothe accoipanying drawing making a part as well as to perpendicular shaf'ting, to railroadcarof Vthese specifications', inwhichriages, and to steamer-shafts, and to'every description v Y y Fxgurel is aside elevation of perpendicular woodof heavy gearing.

en"shaft,w1th anti-tiictiondevice at bottom. Third, of a beveled wheel or boot attached to the Figure 2 is a side elevation ot' grist-mill spindle, y main shafting, or to the shafts of the passive wheels. with antief'ictiqn device gttnchei One end' or disk ot' this beveled wheeler boot is pro- Figure 3,' side elevation of shaft of suspended watervided with circular grooves,corresponding with the wheel, with anti-friction'rdevice attached. A grooves in the step and counter-plate before named. Figure 4, perpendicular line-shafti'ng, wit-h antillhe sides-are beveled to tit and revolve with the b'ev- `friction device attached. els on the passive wheels, and a square hole is made Iiignre 5, horizontal line-shading, sustained by pasin the "center for a coupling-box, thus adapting and sive wheels. designing it `to be used. for the three-fold purpose of a y*liigure 6, vertical section of hollow shaft, as indigrooved revolving plate, a beveled wheel, and a coupcated byline ze: iniig. 5. l ling-boxe Figure 7,-sideview-,of steamer-shaft, with anti-frie- Fourth, of combining and arranging vtwo or more tion device attached,`gandresting on passive wheels. i sets of my anti-friction devices with upright line-shaft- Figure `8, top view ot' steamer-shaft, showing passive ing, so as to avoid lthe use of spur-gearing, and greatly wheels arranged to sustain lateral pressure. .lessen the friction, by attaching the. step-plates to the Figure 9, side view of railroad carriage, with ant-` upper doors or timbers arranged for that'purposeJ passfriction passive wheels attached, inverted. ing the upper end of the shaft through the 'step-plate FiguredO, endview of the railroadcarriage, with and attaching thecombined -grooved plate and eonp, anti-friction devices attached. i ling-box to the lower end of each section of the shaft- Figure 11, top view of the same railroad carriage. ing, and thus coupling them together. Figure 12, top view of step-grooved plate. Fifth, of the arrangement by which 1n y anti-friction Figure l13, top view. of coupling-box and beveled device isapplied to screw-propellers and other steamboot or conc-wheel. ers, by combining two sets of the plates with spheres, Figure'14, sectional view of cone-wheel conplingandso attaching them to the shait as that both the box, as indicated by the line x x of fig. 4. v forward and backward pressure on the shaft, caused Like letters iu the different figures lof the drawing by the forward and backward motion of the steamer,

indicate like partsof the invention. will befsustained by 'therevolving spheresinthe grooved i Namm `V plates, and thusavoiding friction. v

, y Sixth, J'n the arrangement ofthe passive wheels to U My invention is designed to avoid friction in heavy. perpendicular or horizontal shafting, so as to sustain gearing, and consists--` and counteract lateral pressure.

` First, ofan anti-friction device, consisting of a step- Seventh, of the arrangements by which my antil Vplate and a counter revolving plate, each made with -friction devices are applied to .the running gearing of circular grooves, in which 'spheres of proper size are railroad carriages,which I accomplish by invertingthc arranged to revolve freely and separately, as arranged `passive wheels, so as to have the bevel at the bot-tom, and attached at f the bottom of an ordinary upright and'arranged to rest'on the axles of the railroad car,- shaft and to a grist-mill spindle, and at 4the top ofthe ringe wheels, lwhich axles are properly beveled to fit shaft of` a turbine water-wheel, where the lower end and revolve with the bevel on the passive` wheels, the works under water, and "to La horizontal shaft of a `grooved plates,.with'revolving spheres, being properly steamer, f'so that the entire weight or pressure of the arrangedou. the top of t-he passive wheels, by means shafts maybe sustained by the anti-friction spheres, of which arrangement the entire weight of the car and thus avoiding all rubbing or sliding iiction, and, by carriage is sustained by the revolving spheresaud pasturning the spheres loose in the grooves,` avoidingthe sive wheels, thus avoiding friction and the liability of friction caused `by the spheres'or rollers revolving on heating, and dispensing 4entirely with lubricating-oil. axes in a revolving plateor otherwise. y A is a step-plate, and

I greater' tha B, a counter revolving plate, of any required dia-meter and'ithi'ckness, according to the weight to be sustained, the diameter of each corresponding, ordinarily, .with the diameter ofthe shaft B', to which the plate B is attached.

Each plate is provided with circular groove or grooves, C, equidistant on all sides from theceuter of the plate, being thus inthe shape of a true circle, the center of which is the center of the plates, in which circular grooves are placed a sphere or spheres, l), yhaving no axes, but allowed to revolve freely and independently in the said grooves. These spheres nia-y be of any requiredsize, say frorntwo to six inches in diameter, and they, as well as the plates, may beinade of cast-iron, or any other suitably hard material. For railroad carriages, for Steamers, and for grist-inills, I should make the plates and spheres of cast steel.

The depth of the grooves n may be required to secure the spheres in place, and the width of the grooves should be sufficient to afford easy, free play to the spheres. A depth in each plate of one-eighthof the diameter of the Ysphere will probably be sufficient, and if, by use, it is found that a less depth will sutiice, it would be preferable, so as to allow as much as possible of the` surfaceof the spheres to be free and exposed to the air. For illustrations of the plates and'sphcres, see figs. l and 12 of the drawing. t

D is a beveled wheel or boot,the bot-tom or larger face of which is provided with circular grooves, corresponding exactly with the grooves in plates A and B, and the sides are properly beveled to fit and revolve with a corresponding bevel on the passive wheels, and the center is provided with a square hole, t-o forni a coupling for the shutting, (see gl 14,) being thus designed and adapted for a three-fold purpose, viz: for a revolving grooved plate, for a bevel-wheel or boot, and for a coupling-box, as seen inthe different figures of the drawing..

E represents the passive wheels, the upper disks of which are properly beveled to fit and revolve with the corresponding bevel on the cone-wheel or boots D, which are attached to the horizontal shafts H H, and elsewhere, as required, and shown in the drawing.A

' The shafting H H has proper bearings, l1 b', to merely steady it laterally, the entire weight of the shafts being sustained bythe passive wheels, as shown in tig. 5.

These passive wheels are properly arranged and fastened to the upper ends of the shafts F G G, to the lower ends ,ot' which shafts are attached revolving grooved plates B D, which revolve on the spheres b in the grooves instep-plates A A A, as shown in tigs. 5 and 7.

Shaft G is made hollow, so as to revolve arounda spindle or inner shaft, whichextends the entire length and above and below the shaft, the lower end passing through plate A, and resting upon the timber under the plate, and the upper end extending above, and is widened-so as to form the bearing T for the shaft H, which passes through a hole therein, as seen in figs. 5 and 6. This hollow shaft is preferable Vto shaft F for supporting heavy pressure.

The step-'plates A are made with a hole, (l, in the center, as shown in lig. 12, into which hole the center journals or points, c, on the lower ends of shafts B' l G, 86o., extend far enough only to hold these' shafts in position laterally. K represent-s a turbine o'r other water-wheel shaft, passing entirely through step-plate A, whichis secured upon a cross-beam, L, the counter revolving plate D being attached near the upper end of the shaft, which is h eld in position laterally by the brace f.

The lower end-of this shaft extends into the bearing g far enough only to steady it laterally. but not so as to bear upon the end, the entire -weight of the shaft and wheel beingsnspended upon and sustained4 by the in the plates should be no revolving spheres bin the plates above, and thus is avoided the extra friction and inconvenience of bearings at the lower end of the shaft, under water.

S represents upright shafting, coupled together by the combined grooved plate, beveled boot, and coupling-box D.

The step-plates A are attached to the floors of the building, or to timbers properly arranged for that purpose, and the upper end of each section of the shafting passes entirely through stepplates A, and, being made square, enters lthe square hole in coupling-box D, which is properly secured to the lower end of the next section of the shafting, and so on. Thus each section of the shaft-ing rests and revolves upon the spheres, in its respective step-plate, thus dispensing entirely with spur-gearing, and nearly annihilating the friction. 4

S' represents the shaft of a screw-propeller, having. a double set of plates',A D, and spheres b,'so arranged as that both the forward and backward pressure upon the shaft, caused by the forward and backward motion ofthe steamer, will be received and sustained by the spheres in the grooved plates.

The entire weight f the shaft is sustained by the eral pressurcnpon the shaft is sustained by the passive wheels E E', as shown in fig. 8.

Where the shaft of vthe steamer is of sufficient diameter, the end of the shaft may be provided with the circular grooves U, so as to form the counter revolving plate B on the end of the shaft, and thus dispensing entirely witlrthe extra plate D, as represented in figs. 7 and 8.

The arrangement above described for screw-propellers is equally applicable to side-wheel Steamers, 'and in all cases where the shafts,upright or horizont-al, are of sufficient diameter, the counter revolving plate B may be formed on the end of the shaft, thus dispensing with the extra plate D where the beveled boot or cone-wheel is not'required.

1t It represent a railroad carriage with my anti i'iction gearing attached, the passive wheels E being inverted, so that the beveled part thereof rests upon the axles V of' the railroad carriage, which axles are passive wheels, as seen in figs. 9 and 10.

-The grooved'plates A D, with their spheres b, are arranged on the top of the passive wheels, plates A and D being also inverted, aud plate A attached to the upper timbers of the carriage, and D to the upper of the carriage and car issustained by the revolving spheres b and wheels "E, avoiding friction and the liability of heating, and dispensing entirely with the use of lubricating-oil. v

I have arranged to use two or more passive wheels, as rnay be desired.

Two extra wheels, "i and E, are placed 'near the middle of the carriageaxle, which wheels rest upon properly beveled boots or cones, D' D', attached to the carriage-axle, as shown in figs. 10 and 11, the whole machinery supported and kept in place-hy suitable frame-work.

The arrangementfor sustaining and operating lineshafting, as described, is equally applicable to a single drum-shaft, as represented by either section o f the line-shutting, and also as may be seen in g. 10, inf verted, showing a single railroad-axle, with wheels inverted,'which 'may represent the single shaft, with drum or drums attached.

Operation.

The spheres heilig arranged to revolve freely and independently in the grooves, and the circumference of the outer edge of the grooves heilig greater than the inner edge, they arc constantly changing the line passive wheels E, as shown in iig. 7, andthe latproperly beveled at the ends to tit the bevel on the end of the shaft of wheel E. Thus the entire weightl r taining a perfectly spherical 4friction caused wherethe sphere revolvesupon axes,

' devices,

of their axes, and thus wearequally on all sides, main- "vshape, thusavOiding the and also avoiding the necessary result in that ease, of th spheres being changed by wearing into elongated ro ers. y Wherever friction would be produced by lateral pressure, the passive wheels may be used to counteract the saine, as shown by wheels El El, in figs. 7", and 8. J Any required length of perpendicular or horizontalv 1ineshaftingr aybe constructed, and the two inay be united and operated together by'ithe proper arrangementand useof the anti-friction devices and passive wheels, vas described, without using any spur-gearing. Railroad carriages constructed with my anti-friction as described, will `notjbe liabletc heat, as is the casewith the old plan, and very much of the friction will be avoided, and'lubricatingfoil entirely dispensedwith, and thus avery large portion of 'the expense of operatingthe rolling stock of railroads may` besaved, and especially inthe number of carriages required," as it will not be necessary to change the carriages to avoid the heating, and it-is believed that, 'withthese' anti-friction devices attached as described, a railroad train may be run with. safetyat a much higher" rate of speed. y

Olaf/ras. What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure i 1. 'lhe anti-friction groovetl plates A B D and spheresb, arranged to rcvolve-freelyand separately in* the grooves of saidpl'ates, in combination with center journals e, alias arrangedland 'operatedwith and upon' shafts B', M, K,tand S,snbstantially'a's described.

2. Thepassive'wheels E, arranged toArevolvenpon theyanti-friction spheres b `in groovedv plates A B D,

.with conewheels D DVD, substantially as 4'friction pla .and attached to a steamer-shaft, S,`as to sustain forward and backward pressure, the weight of the" shaft 4being sustained by passive wheels E, revolving' upon the spheres b in plates A D, substantially as described and'shown in the drawing. l

(5. The 'arrangcmentof onco1" more passive wheels, E1, in combination with kcone-wheel D,npon a'pelpen-` dicular or horizontal shaft, so as to sustain lateral pressure, snb'stantiall y as described..

7. Passive wheels E E, invert-ed,.ainiwithjbeveled disksatv the bottom, and having anti-friction grcoved lplates A D and spheres b arranged to ieevclve freely' and separately inthe grooves ofthe plates arranged at the top of the wheels,"inbonlbinatioirwith' a beveled railroad-axle, V, with. or without cone-wheel D', ald with or withont'wheels 13 and E4, substantially as' described. y

In attestation of thc foregoing'specifications of my .fi'ictionfannihilator, I hereunto subscribe my ,name in the presence of subscribing witnesses, this 410th.,V day 0f June, A. D. 1870.v Y f l THOMAS CHASE.

' -Xl-Vitnesses: i

H. M. Bnown, G. B. Townns. f

groovedplate, cone-wheel, i

tes and spheres, reversed, and so arranged 

